Electric switch



L. KELLNER. ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED IIIAII. 22. Ism.

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ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLlcATxoN FILED MAR. 22. 191s,

Patented Oct. 5, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' v uw, 545 y I Z @13 4f @Hozme g5 Q the switch is in circuit-breaking Vis a vertical longitudinal vswitch mechanism illustrating the preferred f embodiment of the invention, the section be- .ing taken on the line I-I of Fig. 2, and the LOUIS KELLNER, 0F BROOKLYN,

NEV YORK.

ELECTRIC S'WITCH.

Application ined March 22, 191s.

10 207mm it may concern:

Be it known that l, loUrs KnLLNnn, a citizen of the'United States, and a resident of the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, (Case E) of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to improvements in electric switches, and has for its principal objectthe provision of means for preventing access to live or lelectrically charged parts of the switch mechanism when the circuit is closed.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby it is necessary to operate the switch to break the circuit before access may be had to those parts of the switch through which the current flows when the circuit is closed. A further object of the invention is to provide a switch mechanism having a casing adapted to inclose the line terminals, fuses, and terminal bridging means, said casing having a cover or door which is positively and automatically held or locked in closed position when the switch is in circuit-closing position and which may be freely opened and closed when the switch is in circuitbreaking position.

Another obj ect of the invention ts to provide a switch with a casing inclosing the line terminals, fuses, and movable terminal bridging means, said casing having a door or cover adapted to be automatically closed and held in closed position by means operable by the switch mechanism during the circuit-closing operation of the switch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch having movable terminal bridging means, means Vfor automatically locking the terminal bridging` means in circuit-closing position, a casing inclosing the line terminals and terminal bridging means and also the fuse or fuses, and means moving with the terminal bridging means adapted to engage a door or cover of said casing and hold or lock said door in closed position when the switch is in circuit closing position and to release said door when position. drawings, Figure l sectional view of a v In the accompanying Specification of Letters Patent.

JPatented Oct. 5, 1920. serial no. 224,059.

parts being shown in circuit-closing Yposition;

Fig. 2 a vertical transverse section on the line ll-ll of Fig'. 5;

Fig. 3 a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, parts of the mechanism. being omitted to more clearly show the construction of the casing,-

U Fig. 4 a. vertical longitudinal section :on the line IV-V of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 a horizontal section on the line V-`V of Fig. 4l; and

Figs. 6 and 7 detail side elevations of parts of the operating` mechanism.

The switch shown in the drawings is particularly applicable for use in connection with systems of distribution supplied with high tension currents in which it is the practice to place a. fuse in each side of the line adjacent the switch and to provide a switch adapted to make and break the circuit through each side of the line. It will be obvious, however, that the invention may be embodied in various other constructions.

ln the preferred construction shown in the drawings, the entire switch mechanism, including the line-terminals, fuses, terminal bridging brushes, switch lever, and the mechanism operated by the switch lever to shift the terminal bridging brushes toward and from circuit-closing position, is mounted within a box-like inclosing case. The inclosing casing comprises a base l of porcelainor other suitable non-conducting material, side walls 2, end walls 3, and a cover 4, which is hinged at 5 to one of the end walls 3. The walls 2 and 3 and cover fl are preferably formed of sheet metal, and the cover 4 may be provided with any suitable form of latch or lock, if desired.

wo vertically extending frame members or plates 6 and 7 are held at their lower ends substantially centrally of the' base l, said members being preferably connected by an integral base plate 8 fastened upon the upper face of the base l by suitable screws 9. The frame plates 6 and 7 are connected adjacent their upper ends by a rod 10 on which is rotatably mounted a sleeve ll having reduced angular' end portions 12 and 13. The sleeve ll is adapted to be oscillated by a swinging switch handle or lever 14 having an angular opening or socket through which the reduced end portion 12 of the sleeve eX- tends. A. disk 15 is mounted on the reduced angular end portion 13 of sleeve 1l, said disk being formed with a central angular opening 16 through which said end portion 13 extends to adapt the disk to rotate with said sleeve. rlhe disk 15 is cut away through slightly more thanA half its periphery to form stop shoulders 17 and 1S adapted to abut against the free end of a pivoted arm or latch 19 when the switch lever is swung to the limit of its throw to break and close the circuit, respectively. The latch 19 is pivotally held at 20 t0 a lug 21 stamped in-l wardly from the frame plate 6, and is normally pressed upwardly in the path of the ston shoulders 17 and 18by a suitable flat spring 22 held to the frame member 6.

A disk 23 is loosely mounted on the rod 10 adjacent the outer face ot disk 15, and a mutilated' gear wheel or segment 24 is held to the outer face of disk 23 to rotate therewith by means ct suitable pins or rivets 25. The teeth ot the gear wheel 24 mesh with the teeth of a rack 26 formed at one side of a vertically extending elongated opening 27 in a bracket 29. The bracket or plate 28 is held at its lower end by screws 29, to the upper face ot' a reciprocable block 30 formed of' insulating` material. The block 30 and bracket 28 are guided vertically, the block being provided with openings V31 through which the frame plates 6 and 7 extend, and the bracket being provided with an outwardly projecting pin or lug 32 working in an elongated slot 33 formed inthe frame plate 7. The, pin 32 serves also to limit the upward movement of the block 30 and the parts mounted thereon.

A spring 34 is coiled about the sleeve 11 and the opposite ends 35 and 36 of said spring project outwardly at one side ot the sleeve in different horizontal planes. The switch lever 14 is provided with an inwardly projecting pin 37 extending between the ends 35 and 36 ot spring 34, and the disk 23 is provided with an oppositely projecting pin 3S .extending between the ends of said spring. The disk 23 is cut away through slightly more than halt its periphery to iorm stop shoulders 39 and 40 adapted to engage latch 19 inithe-sanie inaniier as shoulders 17 said disk 23 isalso disposed notches 41 formed with oppositely and 42g in which the upper edge ot latch 19 is adapted to engage. to hold disk 23 against rotation until the latch is released as hereinafter described. The latch 19 is adapted to be disengaged from notch 41 and notch or cam-shaped ends 43 and 44 ot' an arcuate oscillating releasing member 45 pivotally held at 46 to the inner t'ace ot disk 15. The

, dirk 15 is provided with two lugs or stop pins 47 and 43 and the arcuate releasing member 45 is adapted to be rocked about its pivot 46 and held against said stop pins partitionl or plate 59,

and 18 oit disk 15, and

' tongues 63 integral with plate 59'.

42 by the inclined alternately to alternately project the cam ends 43 and 44, respectively, beyond the periphery of the cut-away portion of disk 15 in position to depress latch 19 and disenage said latch from notches'41 and 42 in disk 23, as hereinafter described. The member 45 is adapted to be held against either of the stops 47 and 48 by a flat spring 49 held at one end to disk 15 in any suitable manner and formed with an offset portion 50 adapted to engage against opposite sides of a projection 51 formed on the member 45 adjacent the pivot 46 ofsaid member.

Two pairs of spring metal fuse-holding clips 53 and 54 are held to the base 1 in any suitable manner. The clips 53 are electrically connected in the usual manner with line wires forming opposite sides of the circuit, and clips 54 are electrically connected with a pair ot stationary terminals or 85 switch contacts 55 held to the base 1. Two fuses 52 of any suitable construction are detachably held in the pairs of clips 53 and 54, A second pair of stationary terminals or switch contacts 56 are held to the base 1 opposite the terminals 55, and said terminals 56 are. electrically connected in the usual way with line wires forming opposite sides of the circuit.

Two terminal-bridging or circuit-closing brushes 57 are held to the lower side of the reciprocable block 30 by suitable bolts or screws 58, vsaid brushes being preferably coiintersunk in said block, as shown. The brushes 57 are preferably resilient and 100 formed of a plurality of laminated spring metal plates having downwardly turned yieldabl'e end portions adapted to engage the terminals 55and 56.

The switch casing is divided horizontally 105 into two compartments, by an intermediate held upon suitable angle iron brackets or supports 60, and provi ed with a hinged section 61 forming a' door or cover adapted when open to permit 110 access to the fuses and those parts of the switch through which the current flows when the circuit is closed, such as the brushes and stationary contacts. The doorv 61 is hinged on a rod 62 which is supported 115 in bearings Jformed by downwardly bent he door 6l is preferably provided with a suitable snap latch 64 having the usual spring pressed and bevel faced bolt 65 adapted to 12o be released by a finger piece 66 working in a slot 67 in the door. The end ot bolt 65 is adapted to snap under the adjacent flange of one ot the angle brackets 60. The latch 64 serves to normally hold the door 125 6l closed and is especially advantageous when the switch is installed by fixing the base 1 to thc side of a wall, as is frequently the case in practice.

The plate 59 is cut away to form a recisn tangular opening 68, one side of which extends parallel with the pivotal point of the hinged cover or door 61. The block carrying the brushes 5T extends through said openingy G8 and is adapted to be reciprocated relatively to the plate 59 by thelmechanism heretofore described. The recipr ca ble block 30 is provided with a laterally projecting flange 69, preferably formed integrally therewith and extending laterally from all four sides thereof, as shown. Said iange 69 may, if desired, be formed only on the side of the block 30 adjacent the hinge of door (i1, and it will be obvious also that instead ot a flange said block 30 may be provided with any suitable form of projecting device adapted to engage the outer side of door 61. The iange 69 is adapted to seal the edges ot opening 68 when the switch is in circuit-closing position to prevent any possibility of accidentally or otherwise establishing electrical contact vbetween the body of a person and live parts of the switch through said aperture. it will be observed also that a portion of said iange G9 extends beyond the hinge rod G2 and overhangs the door or cover 61. ie tial/ige 69 is so positioned that it closeiy e7- 'es the otter tace of plate 59 and door 51 when the switch is in circuit-closing position., thus not only sealiulcr opening o8, but aiso positively engaging the outer face of door 61 and holding' said door in closed position against the brackets GO. As 'the block 30 is automaticaily locked in its inner or circuit closing position by latch 19, disk 23, pinion Q4, and rack Q6, it will be seen tha the door 61 is positively locked or held against opening' movement by the act ot' operating the switch to close the circuit, said locking1 means moving with the movable contacts or terminal bridging' brushes 5T to lock and release said door (S1 when the switch is in circuit closing` and breaking positions, respectively.

The construction and operation of the mechanism heretofore llescribed for reciprocating and iockine` block 3() and the contact brushes 5T is the same as that shown and described in my copending application Serial No. 205,155.9. tiled December 3, 191?. To close the circuit, the lever 14 is swung through an arc ot suhstantiallyv 189G from the position shown in Figs. 2. 4 and to the position shown in 1. It will be observed that, as lever 14 is thrown over, the sleeve 11 and disk 15 are rotated in a clockwise direction while disk 23 is held stationary by latch 19, which is held engaged in notch 41 in disk 23 by spring' lt will also be seen that spring 34 is wound or placed under tension by pin 3T on lever 14 which forces the end 35 of said spring 34 before it as the lever is swung to the right. ll'hen lever 14 is in the position shown in Figs.

4 and the cam end 44 ot releasing member is in projected position with its rear face 44E in position to engage latch 19 during the initial movement of the switch handle. y As the rea-r tace 44n otcam end 44 of member 45 rides over latch 19 said member 45 is rocked about its pivot 4G, as spring 22 is stronger than spring 49, thus forcing the projection 51 to the opposite side of projection on spring` 49, thus ret 'acting cam end 44 and projecting cam end 43 ot' releasing member beyond the periphery of disk 15 in position to engage and depress latch 19 when the handle or lever 14 approaches the limit of its throw.

As lever 14 approaches the limit ot its thro-w the .inclined end 43 of member 45 engages latch 19 and depresses said latch, thus releasing disk Q3 which is rapidly rotated in clockwise direction by reason of the engagement ot the end 36 of spring 34 under pin 3S on disk The rapid rotary movement of disk 23 imparts a similar rapid semi-revolution to mutilated gear 24 which mesh with rack 2G. It will be seen, therefore, that rack 23 and bracket 28 will be projected with a snap action toward base 1, carrying block B0 and brushes 57 to the position shown in Fig, l, in which position the ends of brushes 57 engage the two pairs oi contacts or fixed terminals 55 and 56 and ciose the circuit. As soon as disk 23 cornpietes its semi-revolution to force the brushes 57 into firm and close engagement with contacts and 5G, the latch 19 will snap into notch 42 in disk Q3 and positively iock said disk and the gear 24 against rotation, thus also iocking rack 26 and block 30 in their inner or circuit-closing positions. The circuit-breaking operation is the reverse of the operation just described.

it will he observed that the block 30 is thus automatically locked in its inner or circuit-closing position and also in its circuit-breaking` position, and that said block carries means adapted to engage door Gl and hold said door locked in closed position when the switch is operated to close the circuit and to release said doorto permit opening thereof when the'switch is operated to break the circuit. it will be further observed that it door (il is open when the switch is operated to close the circuit, the iange wilt engage and close said door and positiveiy lock the door when the switch mechanism moves to circuit-closing position. lt wili be obvious also that the cover 4 and ail that part of the casing above plate 59 and door 61 may be dispensed with, if desired.

lVhat ciaim is:

1. in an electric switch, the combination ot an operating' handle, movable terminal bridging means, line terminals, means for automatically locking the bridging means in locking on and off positions, means controlled by movement of said handle a predetermined extent for temporarily releasing said locking means and shifting the bridging means, a casing inclosing the bridging means and line terminals, a movable closure for said casing, and means located exteriorly of said casing movable with the terminal bridging means into engagement with said closure when the bridging means is shifted to on position to prevent opening of the closure Without first shiftingvthe bridging means to off position by an operation of the handle.

2. ln an electric switch, the combination of line terminals, terminal bridging means, a reciprocable support for said bridging means, a casing inclosing the live parts of the switch and having an opening through which said support is reciprocated, a hinged closurefor the casing having one edge located adjacent said opening, an operating handle, means controlled by the handle for reciprocating the support and automatically the support in its shifted positions, and an abutment on said support adapted to engage the outer side of said hinged closure when the support is locked with the bridging means in circuit-closing position.

3. In an electric switch, the combination of line terminals, fuse terminals, a casing inclosing the line terminals and fuse terminals, a door for the casing, terminal bridging means within the casing,'means reciprooperating the bridging means, an operatingg handle, rmeans operable by movement of tlie handle a predetermined extent for actuating' said reciprocable means and positively locking said reciprocable means against movement except by the handle, and means carried by said reciprocable lmeans movable into engagement With the outer side of the door when the bridging means is shifted to circuit-closing position. l

4. In an electric switch, the combination of line terminals, terminal bridging means, a casing inclosing the line terminals and bridging means and having an opening therethrough, a' support for the bridging means reciprocable in said opening and having a laterally extending flange overhangng the edges of said opening, a closure for the casing hinged at one edge adjacent said opening, and an operating handle located exteriorly of the casing for reciprocating said support to make and break the circuit and to shift said flange on the support into and out of engagement with the outer side of the closure and the outer side of the casing around the edge of the opening therein to seal said opening and hold said closure in closed position when the lcircuit is closed.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiiX my signature.

Louis KELLNER. f 

